University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
9-3,0-1ACC
#22 Louisville
10-3,2-0ACC
No. 12 WBB Falls In Overtime To No. 22 Louisville In ACC Opener
December 14, 2025 | Women's Basketball
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – Facing off against No. 22 Louisville in its first ACC game of the season, No. 12 North Carolina Women's Basketball could not complete the comeback win in overtime play on Sunday night in Carmichael Arena, falling 76-66.
In the Atlantic Coast Conference opener, North Carolina (9-3,0-1 ACC) suffered its third ranked loss of the season as Louisville (10-3, 2-0 ACC) remains undefeated in ACC play.
Five Tar Heels posted double-digit games, with Taliyah Henderson leading the way for North Carolina with 13 points, shooting 100% from the field and adding three scores from deep. It was the second time in the last seven days five Tar Heels reached double figures. Nyla Harris put up nine rebounds to aid the Tar Heel effort, surpassing 600 career rebounds. Harris also added 11 points, one assist and one steal.Â
Defensively, Carolina continued to compete against the nation's top offense with Louisville entering the game averaging 82.9 points per game. The Tar Heels held the offensive powerhouse to just 40.3% from the field.
The three-point shot remained a focal point of the Tar Heel offense, as Carolina knocked down 11 from beyond the arc, marking the sixth time this season UNC hit double figures in made threes.Â
Both teams got off to a hot start shooting over 50% from the three in the first quarter, with Lanie Grant adding two buckets from long. After a few offensive miscues that turned into eight Cardinal points, the Tar Heels found their rhythm again to go on a 7-0 run, cutting a once nine point deficit to a two point trail after one at 29-27.
In a quiet scoring quarter from both sides of the floor, Ciera Toomey grabbed three physical rebounds and added five points in the frame to hold the Tar Heels within five points at the half. Carolina defense was key holding Louisville to 12 points, a new low for it in the second quarter. Laila Hull and Harris also caused defensive chaos by forcing four Cardinal turnovers, each tallying a steal.Â
Toomey continued to be a force all around the court with a shot falling from three, a block and two rebounds in the third frame alone. Off the bench, Taliyah Henderson added two baskets in just three minutes. Despite a 13-2 run by the Cardinals, the Tar Heels were able to keep it within a five point differential heading into the fourth quarter.
Henderson continued her hot streak from the field with a basket from deep to cut the lead down even further, forcing a Louisville timeout. After a scoring drought from Carolina, Harris brought the physicality in the paint, delivering two tough scores in the paint and fighting for rebounds on the other side. Carolina continued to stay in the game passing the ball around finding Henderson open from three once again to take a one-point lead at 64-63 with a little over a minute remaining.
The Cardinals went multiple minutes in the fourth without a basket, allowing UNC to go on an 8-0 run, shooting 100% in their last four field goals of the game. It would be Henderson's success from behind the arc and Grant's key creative score down low to force overtime play at 66 all.
In overtime play UNC struggled to connect and ultimately fell behind in the final five minutes of play leading to the Cardinal win, falling to Louisville, 76-66.
Carolina returns to non-conference action, hosting UNCW from Carmichael Arena on Wednesday night. The Tar Heels take on the Seahawks for late night hoops at 8 p.m. ET, airing on ACC Network.
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